White Bunny Ears Cactus
Opuntia microdasys var. albata · Native to Mexico
The snowy-white cousin of the classic Bunny Ears — the same playful paired pads, but dotted with crisp white glochids instead of gold. Compact, charming, and easy.
Available in 4½ inchCare
Light
Thrives in bright, direct sunlight and warm conditions. Plenty of light keeps its pads plump and its glochids bright white.
Water
Water only when the soil is fully dry. Overwatering can cause the pads to rot, so keep it on the dry side.
Soil & Feeding
Use a well-draining cactus soil, and fertilize monthly during the growing season.
Quick Tip
Handle with tongs or gloves — the fine white glochids detach instantly and are tricky to remove from skin.
Details
Its flat pads, covered in dense white glochids, give it a soft, fuzzy, snow-dusted appearance.
- ✅ Unique white, fuzzy look
- ✅ Compact and decorative
- ✅ Easy-care and drought-resistant
Size
Available in a 4½ inch pot — a great starter size that’s easy to place on a windowsill, desk, or shelf, and simple to repot as it grows.
Good to Know
⚠️ The glochids are fine and irritating — handle carefully and keep away from pets and children, as the plant can be toxic if ingested.
Plant Bio
Opuntia microdasys var. albata · the white-spined Bunny Ears
White Bunny Ears is a pale-glochid form of Opuntia microdasys, the same Mexican pad cactus as the classic golden Bunny Ears. Native to central and northern Mexico, it grows in dry, sunny scrub.
Like its golden sibling, it produces flat, oval pads in playful pairs — but instead of yellow, its polka-dot tufts of glochids are crisp white, giving the whole plant a soft, snow-dusted look.
It branches slowly into a cluster of pads, staying compact and easy in a pot. Those fine white glochids are charming but barbed, so it’s strictly a look-don’t-touch plant.
Care is pure desert cactus: the sunniest spot you have, a gritty mix, and water only when bone-dry.
How is it different from the classic Bunny Ears?
- Its glochids are white rather than golden-yellow, for a frostier look.
- Otherwise it shares the same paired-pad shape and easygoing care.
- Like all glochid cacti, the bristles — not big spines — are the thing to handle around.
Note: The fine glochids detach easily and can irritate skin and eyes, and the plant may cause discomfort if ingested. Handle with gloves and keep out of reach of pets and children. Grown for ornamental purposes and not intended for consumption.